Building having inclined floor levels



April 15, 1969 G. GRAHAM BUILDING HAVING INCLINED FLOOR LEVELS SheetFiled Aug. 27, 1965 April 15, 1969 Filed Aug. 2'7, 1965 cs. GRAHAM3,438,162

BUILDING HAVING INCLINED FLOOR LEVELS Sheet E 6% a y .22 l 41/] L .4 J 1f j]: 2; j i 1% :1 U1 U i i M H w/fl 1E =z l iLi 5 j in IT 1 Fl 7-ToPA/E 85f April 15, 1969 G. GRAHAM BUILDING HAVING INCLINED FLOORLEVELS Filed Aug. 27, 1965 .m W R Paw Wm 0 N y f a April 15, 1969 G.GRAHAM BUILDING HAVING INCLINED FLOOR LEVELS Sheet Filed Aug. 27, 1965INVENTOR. Gray Grafiam United States Patent "ice US. Cl. 52175 11 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A building assembly made up of spacedinclined ramps extending at an acute angle to the horizontal andinterconnected at their opposite ends by pairs of horizontally extendingramps.

This invention relates to a building that is adapted to contain aplurality of separate units and more particularly to an improvedbuilding construction that offers maximum space utilization.

The ever increasing land cost in urban areas has created an increaseddemand for buildings that offer a maximum degree of area utilization.Although multi-storied buildings provide this advantage, the buildingsheretofore proposed result in the formation of cities without culturalor park areas. In addition, the previously proposed buildings do notoffer the maximum potential for retail utilization wherein a pluralityof different stores may be housed in one building.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide animproved building that offers maximum space utilization withoutsacrifice of recreational or outdoor area.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a building that mayserve a variety of functions.

There has been a recent trend toward shopping center areas in retailmerchandising. The known type of shopping center normally spreads overvast areas and does not have any true continuity. The smaller retailstores are frequently positioned in less desirable traffic areas andthus cannot take advantage of the full trafiic of the shopping area. Inaddition, the display areas of these out of the way stores, have no realvalue since there is insufficient traffic past them.

It is, therefore, a still further object of this invention to provide animproved building that may house a shopping center and in which maximumtraffic flow will occur past each of the individual shopping units.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an improvedbuilding that may be used for a shopping center and wherein the displayareas of each of the units has maximum visibility.

A building embodying this invention is adapted to house a plurality ofseparate units. The building is comprised of a first series of inclinedramps that extend substantially parallel to each other and are inclinedat an acute angle to the horizontal. A second series of inclined rampsis spaced laterally from the first series and is comprised of parallellyextending ramps disposed at an acute angle to the horizontal. Theinclined ramps of each series are connected at one end of the buildingby a series of connecting levels and are connected at the oppositebuilding end by a second series of connecting levels.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparentas this description proceeds, particularly when considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a building embodying this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial cross sectional view taken generally along theline 22 in FIGURE 1;

3,438,162 Patented Apr. 15, 1969 FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional viewtaken along the line 33 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken generally along theline 4-4 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the mall area of the building ona larger scale;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic view illustrating the interrelation between thevarious levels of the building shown in FIGURES 1 through 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a schematic view, in part similar to FIG- URE 6, showinganother embodiment of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and in particular to theembodiment in FIGURES 1 through 6, a building embodying this inventionis indicated generally by the reference numeral 11. The building to bedescribed is a shopping or retail center, but it is to be understoodthat it may house other types of separate units. For example, thebuilding 11 may house residential units, professional ofiices, or may bemade up of a mixture of residential, ofiice and retail units.

The floor layout of the building 11 may be best understood by referenceto FIGURE 6 wherein the various floor levels are illustratedschematically. The fioor levels are made up of a first series ofinclined ramps 12, 13 and 14 that are parallel to each other and extendat a small acute angle with respect to the horizontal. The ramps 12, 13and 14 extend upwardly from one end of the building and lie at an anglethat is preferably no greater than about 5 to the horizontal. In apreferred embodiment of the invention, the ramps 12, 13 and 14 lie at a2 angle to the horizontal. The reason for the small acute angle willbecome more apparent as this description proceeds.

Spaced laterally from the inclined ramps 12, 13 and 14 is a secondseries of inclined ramps 15, 16 and 17 that extend upwardly from theopposite end of the building. The ramps 15, 16 and 17 also are disposedin parallel relationship with respect to each other at an acute angle tothe horizontal. Preferably, the angle of the ramps 15, 16 and 17 isequal to the angle of the ramps 12, 13 and 14.

A first series of connecting levels 18, 19 and 21 is formed at the endof the building from which the ramps 12, 13 and 14 ascend. Theconnecting levels 18, 19 and 21 are preferably parallel to each otherand extend substantially parallel to the horizontal plane. One end ofthe ramps 13 and 14 are integrally connected to the connecting levels 18and 19, respectively. The adjacent ends of the ramps 15, 16 and 17 areconnected to the opposite end of the connecting levels 18, 19 and 21,respectively. Thus, the connecting levels 18, 19 and 21 provide ahorizontal connection between the adjacent ends of the inclined seriesof ramps.

At the opposite end of the building, a second series of connectinglevels 22, 23 and 24 is provided. The connecting levels 22, 23 and 24are parallel to each other and substantially parallel to the horizontal.One end of the connecting levels 22, 23 and 24 is connected to the upperends of the inclined ramps 12, 13 and 14. The other end of eachconnecting level is connected to the lower ends of the inclined ramps15, 16 and 17. The connecting levels 22, 23 and 24, therefore, provideaccess between adjacent ends of the series of inclined ramps at therespective end of building 11.

The connecting levels 18, 19 and 21 are spaced a considerablelongitudinal distance from the connecting levels 22, 23 and 24, as hasbeen noted, and the inclined ramps 12, 13 and 14 are spaced laterallyfrom the inclined ramps 15, 16 and 17. This spacing provides an open airmall area, indicated generally by the reference numeral 25, in thecenter of the building. This mall area is shown in more detail in FIGURE5 Vertically extending walls 26 and 27 are formed on each series of theinclined ramps spaced inwardly from the mall to form the outer surfacesof units which may function as stores, ofiice spaces, or living areas oneach inclined ramp. The inward spacing of the walls 26 and 27 providessidewalks or walkways, indicated generally by the reference numeral 28,on the side of each ramp adjacent the mall 25. Intermediate the ends ofthe inclined ramps 12-17, transversely extending connecting ramps 29 areprovided that connect the center of each of ascending ramps at one sideof the building with the center of the next lower descending ramps .atthe other side of the building. Adjacent the ramps 29 are formedtransverse extending ramps 31 that connect each of the inclined ramps atone side of the building with the next higher adjacent ramp at inclined-at the other side of the building.

The outer walls 26 and 27 coact with vertically extending walls 32 oneach of the inclined ramps to provide individual units, as indicatedgenerally by the reference numeral 33. As has been noted, the units 33may be stores, oflice spaces or living areas. It will be noted fromFIGURE that the facing walls 26 and 27 provide a coextensive displayarea that may be viewed conveniently from any level so thatsubstantially all of the stores within the building 11 may be viewedfrom any place therein.

Although the floor of each of the units 33 is inclined slightly due tothe incline of the ramps 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, the incline is notsuflicient to become noticeably objectionable to occupants of the units33. If, however, it is desired to provide a completely level floor inany of the units, the floor may be provided with appropriate overlaythat will provide the desired horizontal surface.

The connecting levels 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 and 24 are also divided intounits 34 which may be utilized for any desired purpose such as stores.The units 34 have outer walls 35 that are spaced inwardly from the mall25 so as to provide a walkway or sidewalk 36 in front of the units 34.The sidewalks 36 are connected to the sidewalks 28 to provide acontinuous generally spiral sidewalk area around the mall 25. It shouldbe readily apparent, particularly by reference to FIGURE 6, that aperson entering the building 11 may walk up the inclined ramp 12 to thefirst connecting level 22 and then to the second inclined ramp and thusin a somewhat screw threaded manner around the building 11 until theuppermost level is reached. Due to the relatively gradual angle of theinclined ramps 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, the persons will not noticetheir gradual ascent. Thus, it should be readily apparent that thetraflic pattern in the building 11 causes maximum exposure to all of thestore units contained therein. The connecting ramps 29 and 21 can beutilized, however, to facilitate crossing over between the inclinedramps if desired and, elevators (not 1shown) may interconnect thevarious ramps or connecting evels.

In the embodiment just described, all of the inclined ramps are ofuniform width and thus a generally rectangular exterior shaped buildingis provided. If residential or urban renewal area is desired, an exposedsun deck or yard may be provided on each floor by making the ramps ofdecreasing width progressing toward the top of the building. Such anembodiment is shown in FIGURE 7.

In the embodiment in FIGURE 7, a first series of inclined ramps 51, 52,53 and 54 extend at a small acute angle to the horizontal. Oppositelyextending ramps are provided on the opposite side of the building. Theinclined ramps are joined by connecting levels 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59 atone end of the building and connecting levels 61, 62, 63 and 64 at theother end of the building. It will be noted that inclined ramps 51through 54 decrease in width to ward the top of the building so that aportion of their outer periphery will be exposed to give a sun deck areathereto. Of course, it would be possible to alter the width inwardly sothat a mall of increasing width were providing along the height of thebuilding. If desired, a more conventional multi-story structure,indicated generally by the reference numeral 65, may replace the mail ofthe previous embodiment. In all regards the building shown schematicallyin FIGURE 7 may be considered the same as that in FIGURES 1-5.

It is to be understood that the specific construction of the improvedbuilding herein disclosed and described is presented for the purpose ofexplanation and illustration and is not intended to indicate limits ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A building adapted to house a plurality of separate units comprisinga first series of inclined ramps extending substantially parallel toeach other and being inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal, saidfirst series of inclined ramps extending upwardly from one end of saidbuilding, a second series of inclined ramps extending upwardly from theother end of said building, said second series of ramps extendingsubstantially parallel to each other and being inclined at an acuteangle to the horizontal, said first and second series of inclined rampsbeing spaced laterally from each other to define a substantially openmall therebetween, a first series of parallel horizontally extendingconnecting levels at one end of said building, each of said first seriesof connecting levels being connected at one end thereof to one of saidfirst series of inclined ramps and being connected at its other end toone of said second series of inclined ramps, a second series of parallelhorizontally extending connecting levels at the other end of saidbuilding, each of said second series of connecting levels beingconnected at one end thereof to one of said first series of inclinedramps and being connected at its other end to one of said second series,said first and second series of connecting levels being longitudinallyspaced from each other to define the longitudinal ends of said mall,said ramps and said connecting levels defining a floor surface of agenerally spiral shape consisting of a ramp of the first seriesterminating at one end of a connecting level of the first series, theconnecting level of the first series terminating at its other end at oneend of a ramp of the second series, the other end of the ramp of thesecond series terminating at one end of a connecting level of the secondseries, the other end of the connecting level of the second seriesterminating at one end of a ramp of the first series and so on, andmeans providing a plurality of units upon each of said inclined ramps.

2. A building as set forth in claim 1 wherein a plurality ofinterconnecting ramps extend between the first and second series ofinclined ramps, each of said interconnecting ramps being connected atone end thereof to one of said first series of inclined ramps and at itsother to one of said second series of inclined ramps, saidinterconnecting ramps being spaced between the connecting levels andextending across said mall.

3. A building as set forth in claim 1 wherein means provide units oneach of the connecting levels and the units are spaced outwardly fromthe mall to provide a walking area between said units and said mall onsaid connecting levels.

4. A building as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means providing theunits upon the inclined ramps are spaced outwardly of the mall toprovide a walkway between said units and said mall on each of saidramps.

5. A building as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of the inclined rampsextends at an angle no greater than 5 to the horizontal.

6. A building as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of the inclined rampsextends at an angle substantially equal to 2 to the horizontal.

7. A building as set forth in claim 1 wherein the inclined ramps of eachseries of inclined ramps extend laterally beyond the next uppermostinclined ramp in the respective series to provide an exposed area at theperiphery of each of said inclined ramps.

8. A building adapted to house a plurality of separate units comprisinga first series of ramps extending upwardly from one end of saidbuilding, said first series of ramps extending substantially parallel toeach other and being inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal, asecond series of ramps extending upwardly from the other end of saidbuilding, said second series of ramps extending substantially parallelto each Other and being inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal,said first and second series of inclined ramps being spaced laterallyfrom each other, a first series of connecting levels at one end of saidbuilding, said first series of connecting levels extending substantiallyparallel to each other and being substantially parallel to thehorizontal, each of said first series of connecting levels beingconnected at one end thereof to one of said first series of inclinedramps and being connected at its other end to one of said second seriesof inclined ramps, and a second series of connecting levels at the otherend of said building, said second series of connecting levels extendingsubstantially parallel to each other and to the horizontal, each of saidsecond series of connecting levels being connected at one end thereof toone of said first series of inclined ramps and being connected at itsother end to one of said second series of inclined ramps, said ramps andsaid connecting levels defining a floor Surface of a generally spiralshape consisting of a ramp of the first series terminating at one end ofa connecting level of the first series, the connecting level of thefirst series terminating at its other end at one end of a ramp of thesecond series, the other end of the ramp of the second seriesterminating at one end of a connecting level of the second series, theother end of the connecting level of the second series terminating atone end of a ramp of the first series and so on.

9. A building as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of the inclined rampsextends at an angle no greater than 5 to the horizontal.

10. A building as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of the inclinedramps extends at an angle substantially equal to 2 to the horizontal.

11. A building as set forth in claim 8 wherein the inclined ramps ofeach series of inclined ramps extend laterally beyond the next uppermostinclined ramp in the respective series to provide an exposed area at theperiphery of each of said inclined ramps.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,105,999 10/1963 Piazolo 52-236X 3,290,837 12/1966 Weston 52236 X FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.CHARLES G. MUELLER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

